International Systems

Not many people have heard of Shabana Basij-Rasikh, but perhaps more people ought to. This young woman is a powerful advocate for the education of young girls. She has been very successful with bringing education to girls in Afghanistan – including the founding of a non-profit school in Kabul while she herself was still in college.

Shabana Basij-Rasikh was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and lived there while the Taliban were in power. Her early years of school consisted of attending secret school and, later during her formal schooling, having to sit outside in tents for class because her school did not have adequate resources to accommodate all of its students.

In Syria, they’re the Lost Generation. It’s not cute, it’s not clever, but it might be true, and that’s heartbreaking. An entire Syrian generation isn’t being educated, and the consequences could be dire for Syria’s future.